Good News Stories from Alberta RCMP Chaplaincy

Whatever we are called to do, wherever we are called to serve, and with whomever we are called to serve alongside, words of encouragement and support shared and received can propel our service and refresh our passion to serve beyond self-conceived limitations, or "boxes". For years I've heard that we should not put God in a box; however, if we believe that God lives in us through His Spirit, then I'd like to add that we need to make sure we don't put ourselves in a box because in doing so we will keep God in a box. Have you put yourself in a box through embracing self-conceived limitations based upon past accomplishments and failures? The following is an article that our CPCA friend, RCMP National Manager of Spiritual Wellness Services and K Division Chaplain Coordinator George Madden sent me to share with you. George has been the forerunner for growth within RCMP police chaplaincy in Alberta for the past five years, and he has brought fresh vision for chaplaincy to RCMP leaders and other police agency leaders across Canada promoting the significance of chaplaincy as a means to provide emotional and spiritual care to police officers and their families, regardless of faith and cultural traditions. George believes in, embraces and promotes the team approach to serve - serving alongside other disciplines to promote complete wellness within police officers and their families.

If you read these stories and think to yourself, I could never do what George is doing, may I suggest you have put yourself in a box and God along with you. That's not reducing in significance the things George and his team have accomplished; I'm simply suggesting you may be limiting what God wants to do in and through you by boxing yourself and God in. If you read these stories and think to yourself, "Good for George", you are not being encouraged by what is happening with chaplaincy on the bigger level. However, if we can read this and think "Good for Us", then we receive what we read as a word of encouragement and feel a sense of support by what God is doing in Alberta and across our Nation. May we be refreshed as we read these stories and may our passion to serve those whom God has placed in our path take us past our self-conceived limitations and break open wide our boxes. On that note, I'm still looking for a current serving police chaplain who is a member of the CPCA to put your name forward for consideration for serving as a CPCA Regional Director. You are needed on our National Leadership Team. Please contact me through our website https://www.canadianpolicechaplainassociation.com/contact

Congratulations George, and your team, and thanks for sharing the stories below.

Warmest regards,

Chaplain Bruce Ewanyshyn

CPCA President

ICPC Director of Region 1

Let the good news stories from George begin:

RCMP K Division Spiritual Wellness Team Training

K Division RCMP completed two days of training this spring with some great presenters providing information on various subjects relevant to chaplains and updates on the SWS program. It was a good time of welcoming new chaplains and enjoying a day of fellowship and connection. The program has now grown with chaplains serving in over 100 detachments and specialty units and having over 30,000 contacts with employees and their families in 2024 in Alberta. K division has a strong team of divisional chaplains that meet regularly with their district’s chaplains providing encouragement and support.

K Divisions Chaplains Red Deer North meeting in Parkland detachment hosted by Chaplain Don Schiemann

K Division Chaplains Red Deer South meeting in Sothern Alberta District hosted by district chaplain Sandra Madden

RCMP National Spiritual Wellness Manager receives RCMP Commissioners Award

The RCMP Commissioner award refers to the Commissioner's Commendation, which recognizes RCMP employees for exceptional performance, contributions, or acts of bravery exceeding their normal duties. These commendations are awarded by the RCMP Commissioner and is the highest award presented in the RCMP to employees. Chaplain George Madden received the award from RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme and Deputy Commissioner Trevor Daroux at an awards ceremony earlier in 2025.Chaplain Madden was recognized for building the most diverse, inclusive chaplaincy program in the RCMP and for being a resource to many outside Police Agencies in helping build their programs.

Chaplain George Madden receives the RCMP Commissioner's Commendation in 2025

The 3 R's - an article written by George Madden in 2022 that still carries weight in 2025 and beyond

Often, I refer to the 3 R's when speaking with police leaders, frontline officers, and chaplains. George introduced me and other CPCA chaplains to this practical guide to effective chaplaincy back in 2022, and it remains a benchmark for me today and in the future. This article and other thought provoking articles can be found on our CPCA website under "Quick Reads" available only to CPCA members https://www.canadianpolicechaplainassociation.com/quick-reads

Here is George's article:

Recently I had an RCMP member ask me or better yet I should say tell me that member

wellness programs were simply put out there so the organization could check a box. They said it all sounds good in theory but how are the programs really working practically? I disagreed with them, but also left the interaction challenged to think about the chaplaincy program in K division.

The chaplaincy program in our division is to provide emotional and spiritual support for all

employees and their families and after looking at our mandate, I see that we provide that

service in a lot of different ways. Although chaplaincy works and is effective in a detachment

setting only as trust is built with our employees and that can only happen by being present and known in your detachment setting.

It brings me back to a conversation I had with one of our district chaplains while travelling to do a defusing for a detachment commander and his members. On the way we were discussing ways that our chaplains could be more engaged and accepted in their work as detachment chaplains. Since that conversation and trip the three R’s as I will call them have become a cornerstone for our divisions chaplaincy program effectiveness. I would like to share them with you below.

#1) Reliable

Reliability is such a big part in building relationship and trust in employees. In order to do that

chaplain’s, have to be seen and be a regular weekly part of detachment life. I remember when I first started my position as chaplain coordinator starting with a small group of chaplains. One of my first mandates was to get to know our existing chaplains. While visiting one of the chaplains and having coffee, he was explaining to me that he really wasn’t being used as a resource at his detachment. I asked him how many hours he was putting in monthly building relationships at the detachment and he told me that he had not been to the detachment in over four years. Today that chaplain is no longer serving with us and obviously not being reliable was the reason he was never used as a resource by the employees of the detachment.

To really be effective as a chaplain we all have to learn to be reliable and that means being

consistent in our weekly time at detachment’s. Out of sight as a chaplain will really mean out of mind by our employees. But stopping by weekly and dropping in regularly for special occasions, etc. says to employees that we are reliable and can be counted on. One of the greatest compliments that can be paid to us by employees is, ”Heh I have missed you, where have you been?” One of the weekly things I always tried to do as a detachment chaplain was to pop in and say a quick hi to our commander and ask if there was anything I could help with. Many times there wasn’t anything for me to help with but I wanted them to see me as reliable. Reliability means I can be counted on and am taking this commitment to serve seriously. There is a vast difference between wanting the title as a police chaplain and seeing it as a calling to serve by being consistently reliable.

#2) Relatable

Being relatable is a key component to being an effective police chaplain. Unfortunately, we will not relate to everyone in the detachment. As a matter of fact, I have found that some people tend to shy away from me when I am introduced as the chaplain. God only knows the reason why, but you must remember that you will be judged for a plethora of reasons that you may never end up knowing, just don’t take it personally. That is why being relatable is so important. I may not connect with everyone but I can do my best to break through any barriers just by being consistently nice. A good idea is to never walk by anybody in the detachment without a hello and a friendly smile. Be the person to brighten someone else’s day.

As a new police chaplain I learned from a staff sergeant that I would build relationship by seeing who related with me and to start spending some time with that person. I did that at the office and through ride-a-longs. Through that one relationship it opened all kinds of other

relationships for me at the detachment. Listen to people and you will find out their interests

which is a wonderful way of relating. I have gone quadding, played hockey, been invited for

meals, watched football games, been invited on holidays and a number of other opportunities

just by being relatable. Having effective ministry takes time but the rewards of taking time to be relatable can be amazing moving you from professional into personal relationships. Many of those old relationships have now moved to me doing baptisms, weddings, getting together as families, etc, with employees and their families.

#3) Relevant

One of the main questions I get asked when looking for new chaplains by detachment

commanders is,” George get someone who is relevant and understands our culture.” The

policing culture is a very different culture as most Canadians will never see in a lifetime what an average officer sees in a week. Police chaplains must understand the culture of the community with all its dark humour, acronyms, trust issues and the enormous challenges facing modern police officers and their families.

For many chaplains it is hard to transition from the church world into the policing world.

Making the transition from what I will call speaking Christianise (or whatever faith you

represent) to learning the language of the police officer and their acronyms. The two can be

totally different languages, which for the most part neither party is familiar with. The

adjectives, adverbs and nouns used to describe people and things in the policing world can be quite different from that of the church world. No matter how things are expressed a police

chaplain remains relevant by simply caring for all employees in a non judgemental manner

simply because we care. The old adage remains true that you can’t be so spiritually minded that you are no earthly good.

Empathy to be a listening ear, to show compassion no matter what is spoken or shared with us will go along way in being relevant. We definitely don’t have all the answers, but people don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care.

Reliable, relatable and relevant have become hallmarks of providing excellent employee care in K division by our chaplains. Today we have chaplains serving in over 90 different areas that provide quality employee care and are exactly that relevant, relatable and reliable.

Chaplain George Madden

National Manager Spiritual Wellness Services

RCMP K Division Chaplain Coordinator